Sprinter Tech Times
Welcome to our first addition of Sprinter Tech Times!
Inside this issue:
This month’s issue is all about growth, security, and getting ahead of the curve. As Sprinter celebrates 17 years in business, we are sharing key updates to help your organization stay protected and productive. Inside, you’ll find guidance on getting the most value from your VoIP system in 2026, strengthening cybersecurity and compliance, preventing physical access risks, and making the move to Windows 11. It’s everything you need to stay informed and future focused.
Sprinter News
Celebrating 17 Years of Service: Built on Trust, Driven by Innovation
March 26, 2026 - By Ashley Heil, Head of Growth
This month marks an exciting milestone for Sprinter as we celebrate 17 years in business. That puts us almost at “adult” status, but not quite, and that is exactly where we want to be. It means we are still learning, still improving, and still pushing forward every day.
What began as a retail‑to‑consumer business has grown into a leading B2B technology and cabling provider. By thinking ahead, adapting to change, and putting clients first, Sprinter has built lasting partnerships and earned the trust of organizations navigating a constantly evolving digital world. Through every shift in technology - from basic infrastructure management to cybersecurity, cloud solutions, and strategic IT planning - our commitment to our clients has remained the constant that defines us.
This anniversary is not just about longevity. It is about impact. We are proud of the relationships we have built across industries, especially in manufacturing, municipalities, and small to mid‑sized organizations that rely on us as an extension of their team. Every day, we support operations, manage phone systems, install cabling and security cameras, prevent cyber threats, optimize performance, and guide leadership teams toward smarter technology decisions. Our mission has always been the same: deliver value, reduce risk, and support growth.
None of this would be possible without the people behind Sprinter. Our team’s expertise, responsiveness, and dedication are the foundation of everything we do. Just as importantly, our clients who have trusted us year after year are the reason we continue to improve and raise the standard. That trust drives us to keep evolving, keep learning, and keep delivering better outcomes.
As we look ahead, our mission remains unchanged, but the opportunity continues to grow. Cybersecurity risks are rising, compliance expectations are expanding, and technology continues to advance faster than ever. Sprinter is here to help organizations stay secure, resilient, and ready for what comes next.
To our clients, partners, and team members - thank you for being part of this journey. Seventeen years is a meaningful milestone, but we are just getting started. Here is to continued growth, stronger security, and smarter IT, together.
At Sprinter, we have IT covered! Want to talk tech?
Schedule an appointment with us today, or call
Sprinter Voice
Why the Right VoIP Partner Matters More Than Ever in 2026
March 26, 2026 – By Denise Babcock, Government Growth Specialist
By now, VoIP isn’t exciting. It’s not the shiny new thing. It’s simply what businesses use because it works. Nearly everyone has already moved on from traditional phone lines, so the real differentiator in 2026 isn’t the technology itself - it’s the people supporting it.
And that’s where everything changes.
Because when your phone system is responsible for customer calls, internal coordination, emergency communication, and the daily flow of your operations, the service behind it matters way more than the software features on the box. You don’t just need VoIP. You need the right experts making sure your system actually supports the way your business runs.
Some providers give you a login, hand you a guide, and vanish like your communication system isn’t mission‑critical. But phones aren’t a background tool. They are the front door to your organization - and when something goes wrong, you need more than a portal. You need people.
That’s where Sprinter’s white‑glove service makes a massive difference. We don’t do the drop‑and‑dash approach. We learn your workflows, tailor your setup, monitor performance, prevent problems before you ever notice them, and answer the phone when you call. Real humans, real support, real accountability.
Sprinter’s specialists make sure your system is reliable, crystal‑clear, and built around your actual needs - not a generic template. You get a communication setup designed for your team, maintained by professionals who genuinely care about keeping you connected.
So yes, VoIP is standard now. Everyone has it. But not everyone has the right partner backing it. If your current provider feels slow, unresponsive, or invisible most days, it’s probably time for something better.
If you’re ready for a VoIP experience where you truly feel supported, Sprinter can help!
Sprinter Cybersecurity
Why Cyber Security Protection Is Needed
March 26, 2026 -By Stephen Mariahazy, Sprinter vCIO
Difficulty by design. Principle of least privilege. Harden the target. These may sound like technical ideas, but they apply just as much to everyday life as they do to business. We have all had to click a link in an email from a bank because we logged in on a new computer. We have all had to enter a verification code to prove we are who we say we are. And yes, most of us have complained about how annoying it feels to jump through these hoops just to do simple tasks. Yet at the same time, people have money stolen from their bank accounts or find their email hacked, and the first question is almost always: “Why did this happen to me?” The real answer is simple: because it was easy. Not just for you, but for anyone.
The moment we shift our mindset from “I need to do my work” to “I need to do what I need to do securely,” those minor inconveniences become far more acceptable. A small friction point now can prevent a major problem later. Strong security is not about perfection. It is about being harder to compromise than the next target.
Here are some interesting facts that highlight why cybersecurity matters more than we often realize:
An albatross can lock its wings and soar while half of its brain sleeps.
It takes a computer about 28 seconds to break an 8-digit password made of only upper- and lower-case letters.
The same computer would need roughly 17,000 years to break a password with the same complexity, but 14 characters long.
The most common entry point for a bad actor is an employee letting someone in, intentionally or not.
There is a high likelihood (about 87 percent) that your employees have administrator access on their computers without realizing it.
If you find a debit card and have 3 chances to guess the PIN, you will get it right almost 12 percent of the time by trying 1111, 0000 and 1234.
If you know the person’s birthday, the success rate jumps to 23 percent by replacing the 1111.
The Venn diagram of people who know common PIN usage and people who know how to misuse administrator access is almost a perfect circle.
The original Coca Cola was green.
The idea behind “harden the target” is not about creating flawless security. It is about being more difficult to compromise than the next place so attackers move on.
Cybersecurity does not need to be complicated, but it does need to be intentional. The goal is to reduce risk, increase resilience and make sure your organization is never the easiest option for a bad actor. A little friction now is far better than the fallout of an incident later.
Want to talk more about cybersecurity and how Sprinter can help ensure you are on track? Set up a time to talk tech with us!
Sprinter Cares: Compliance Matters
Cybersecurity + Compliance in 2026: This Isn’t a “Project” - It’s How You Operate
March 26, 2026 -By Josh Evans, Sprinter Technical Alignment Manager
Many organizations still treat cybersecurity and compliance like a one-time initiative: “We’ll do the thing, check the box, and move on.” That mindset is exactly what leads to gaps, fines, and incidents. Today’s reality is clear: requirements are continuous, and risk is continuous. If you handle regulated data, sell into regulated industries, or operate anywhere near the DoD supply chain, expectations are becoming more formal, more prescriptive, and far less forgiving. And this is no longer a “big enterprise problem.” Updated rules like FTC Safeguards make it clear that small and mid-sized organizations are very much accountable. If leadership can’t confidently answer which frameworks apply and who owns cybersecurity and compliance, you’re not behind - you haven’t started.
AI raises both the opportunity and the stakes. Yes, AI boosts productivity, but it also makes it dramatically easier to leak data, automate bad decisions, or accelerate mistakes. The only sustainable stance is intentionally boring: AI helps humans; it does not replace accountability. Anything AI generates remains a draft until a human validates and owns the outcome. If you want structure without hype, frameworks like the NIST AI Risk Management Framework offer a solid foundation. Before rolling out AI internally, write a straightforward policy that defines what is allowed, what is not, which data is off-limits, and which tools are approved. And be clear: sensitive or regulated data does not belong in consumer AI tools.
Where most companies stumble is in skipping fundamentals and trying to buy their way into compliance. No tool can compensate for broken basics. Programs that hold up rely on repeatable fundamentals: centralized identity, MFA everywhere, RBAC and least privilege, scheduled access reviews, enforced device baselines with encryption, and monitoring that produces real evidence. If you want a practical “do this this month” list, start with these: lock down RBAC and least privilege; require MFA for every access path, including local logins; define and enforce endpoint and server baselines; and enable ongoing vulnerability scanning and log review. Even if you think your baselines are solid, verify them. The overlooked settings and bypass paths are exactly what lead to “unexpected” incidents.
Operationally, the trend is clear: reduce noise and build resilience. Assume controls will fail and design layers that keep failures from turning into disasters. Verify your coverage regularly, because yesterday’s configuration often does not match today’s reality. Even backup verification is moving toward automation, because manual screenshot-checking does not scale. Define your minimum viable security stack (endpoint protection, monitoring, logging, and backup verification), document what “good” looks like, and schedule periodic audits, especially after onboarding waves, migrations, or mergers.
And do not overlook the boring but critical network and policy details. Attackers thrive in the gap between intended controls and what is actually enforced. Modern protocols can undermine web filtering and other safeguards if you do not validate how traffic behaves in the real world. Review policies for bypass paths, ensure logging is truly enabled and retained long enough to support investigations, and maintain a clean exception process so productivity does not turn into shadow IT. Consistency matters more than complexity.
When you combine practical AI guardrails, real security fundamentals, and continuous evidence, you get what organizations need most in 2026: the ability to move faster, reduce friction, and withstand the increasing regulatory and security scrutiny that is not slowing down anytime soon.
Have compliance concerns? Sprinter can help! Connect with us now.
Sprinter Access Control
The Security Risk You Might Be Overlooking: Good Old “Midwest Nice”
March 26, 2026 -By Sprinter Security Team
When people imagine security breaches, they usually picture a hoodie‑wearing hacker surrounded by glowing monitors, typing like they’re in a movie. In reality, some of the most successful attacks don’t require coding skills, gadgets, or Hollywood drama. One of the easiest? Tailgating.
Tailgating happens when someone who shouldn’t be inside your building slips in right behind someone who should be. No broken locks. No stolen badges. No alarms. Just a moment of politeness or distraction. Here in Wisconsin, we call it “Midwest nice.” Hold the door, smile, wave someone in… and suddenly your secure space isn’t so secure anymore.
Once inside, that person may have access to far more than you’d ever want. Workstations. Network ports. Sensitive documents. Server rooms. Key infrastructure. Tailgating works because it takes advantage of real human behavior. Most of us don’t want to be rude. Most of us assume people look like they belong. Unfortunately, that instinct can open the door to real consequences: data exposure, equipment theft, downtime, or even safety issues.
Here’s the thing: physical security matters just as much as cybersecurity. You can invest in firewalls, antivirus software, monitoring tools, and every other type of protection under the sun, but if someone can walk right into your building and plug into an open Ethernet port, none of that stops them. And this is where cabling and infrastructure design come into play. Poorly secured network drops, exposed cabling, unmonitored entry points, and unlocked closets make it far too easy for an unauthorized guest to get inside your network with zero hacking skills required.
A well‑designed, well‑managed cabling environment helps close these gaps. Secured network closets, controlled access points, intentional infrastructure layout, and simple labeling go a long way toward building a stronger defense. When your physical environment and your network environment work together, your whole organization becomes much harder to compromise.
The good news: tailgating and related physical vulnerabilities are absolutely preventable. Awareness is step one. Reinforce badge policies. Limit access to restricted areas. Encourage employees to keep an eye on who’s following them through doors. These small habits can make a huge difference.
From there, it’s all about staying proactive. Review entry points. Evaluate your facility layout. Check your cabling for unsecured access. Small fixes today can help you avoid major problems tomorrow.
And if you want help taking a closer look at your access control, cabling, or infrastructure, the Sprinter team is here to make the process simple.
Stay secure. Let us help make that happen. Set up your time to connect with our experts.
Set up your time to connect with our experts.
Sprinter Device Optimization
Still Haven’t Upgraded to Windows 11? Seriously… What Are You Waiting For?
March 26, 2026 -By Michael Mennenga, Technology Fleet Manager
Let’s be honest: Windows 10 is now officially retired. It clocked out for the last time on October 14, 2025, took its farewell cake, and hasn’t shown up to work since.
And yet… some folks are still running it.
So let’s have a friendly chat - not about why you should upgrade to Windows 11, but about why it’s wild that you haven’t already. Staying current with your technology isn’t just a good habit. These days, it’s essential to keeping your business healthy, secure, and capable of handling whatever the modern workplace throws at it.
Outdated Tech Is Not “Vintage.” It’s Just Unprotected.
Running Windows 10 today is like leaving your front door unlocked and taping a note to it that says, “Back in 2025. Please be gentle.”
Microsoft is no longer providing security updates, patches, or fixes. Cybercriminals know this - it’s literally their favorite time of year - because unsupported systems become easier targets every single day they remain in use. Malware, ransomware, exploits, zero‑day attacks… Windows 10 can’t defend itself against any of it anymore.
Windows 11, on the other hand, is built for modern threats.
It requires advanced hardware features like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, unlocking:
Virtualization-Based Security
Better exploit protection
Stronger firmware‑level defenses
A far more resilient security posture overall
If you’re still on Windows 10, it’s not a matter of if a problem will arise - it’s when.
Technology Moves Forward. Staying Behind Isn’t a Strategy.
Windows 11 isn’t just newer - it’s actively getting better. Support, enhancements, performance improvements, new features… all ongoing well into the late 2020s.
Current versions like 25H2 and 26H1 are supported for years to come. Meanwhile, software developers are increasingly designing and optimizing for Windows 11 first. That means:
Better compatibility
Improved performance
Fewer glitches
Access to new tools and integrations
Staying on Windows 10 means eventually hitting a wall - apps stop working, features break, or tools your team needs simply refuse to run.
Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESUs) may buy you a small amount of time, but they’re temporary and limited. They’re a safety net, not a path forward.
Your Hardware Needs to Keep Up, Too
Upgrading your operating system is only half the equation. Keeping your hardware current is just as important - for performance, reliability, and security.
Windows 11 will technically run on a system that meets minimum specs like a compatible 64‑bit processor and 4 GB of RAM… but “minimum” rarely means “good.”
For a smooth, modern experience, we recommend hardware more aligned with:
Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5
16 GB RAM
Fast storage
Hardware that supports current and future Windows capabilities, including AI‑powered tools like Copilot
Systems that barely meet the minimums age faster, slow down sooner, and ultimately drag productivity with them.
Let’s Get You Caught Up
If you're still running Windows 10, now is absolutely the time to move on. Not because it’s trendy, but because staying current with your technology is essential to keeping your business secure, efficient, and ready for the future.
When you’re ready to explore what Windows 11 can do for your business, we’re here to help you make the transition smoothly and confidently. Set up a free consultation now.
